Coupler mechanism



Aug. 22, 1933. E, R KlNNE 1,923,675

COUPLER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 29, 1928 Patented Aug. 22, 1933 Ui liTE ST ES rclerics COUPLER MECHANISM Application October 29, 1928. Serial No. 315,626

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to coupler mechanism, and more particularly to means for operating a coupler from the side of the car.

An object of the invention is to improve the 5 operation of couplers, and more particularly standard A. R. rotary type couplers, in a'manner whereby the coupler can always be operated positively and easilythrough the medium of the uncoupling rod.

Another object is to provide simple, reliable, efficient and inexpensive coupler operating mechalliSlll having cooperating parts whereby a inaxinium operating force may be transmitted to the for facilitating the operation of the coupler.

St ll another object is to provide coupler operating mechanism which will fulfill all requirements of service and manufacture and in which the operating handle will always seek a position such that there will be no tendency to disrupt the 20 parts nor to have any interference with the relative movement of the coupled cars or cooperating parts.

A further object is to provide a coupler mechanism which will effect a great saving in the number of parts now in use, as for instance, the elimination of slack devices between the operating rod and the coupler lifter. I

Still further object is to provide a construction whereby the operating rod has a movement of rotation only with respect to the supporting bracket but readily adapts itself to operation regardless of the position of the coupler.

Yet further object is to provide coupler operating mechanism of such construction and dis position as to prevent interference or damage to said mechanism or adjacent structure when said mechanism and structure of adjacent cars is moved relatively thereto as in the case of opposing couplers passing each other.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a railway car and coupler mechanism embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the coupler mechanism disclosed in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The usual car end sill may be provided with the necessary running and operating gear including a striking casting 11, cooperating parts supporting the standard A. R. A. rotary type coupler 12. The coupler illustrated is of the bottom lift type, the usual operating mechanism for the knuckle 13 thereof being provided within the coupler head, the lifter arm 14 being preferably of the construction illustrated in application Serial No. 315,622, filed October 29, 1928, said arm being provided with a lug 15 provided with a head 16 adapted to form retaining nieansfor the looped end 17 of the operating rod 18 in order to permit relative movement betweenthe coupler and the uncoupling rod, it being understood that rotation of the uncoupling rod causes the looped end to cooperate with the lifter arm to, lift said lifter around its pivot to thereby operate the knuckle 13, all as described in the above referred to application.

The uncoupling rod extends towards the side of the car and is provided with an oifset bearing portion 19 supported in the bearing 20 provided on the bracket 21 secured tothe end sill of the car. The portion of the rod adjacent the bracket is provided with a depending portion 22 which in turn is provided with an offsethandle portion 23, the disposition of the weight of the handle being such as to tend to rotate the rod 7 in a clockwise direction, upon release thereof after operation, to thereby return the handle to inoperative position to prevent said handle obstructing the space between cars.

Viewing the arrangement in plan, as shown in Figure 1, a portion of the rod 24 extending toward the coupler from the offset portion 19 extends in an outboard direction from the car and outwardly from the vertical plane 25, which extends through the bearing and the lug 15 (substantially the pivot of the lifter arm 14). The portion 2 1 is knuckled at 26 and extends in an inboard direction as at 27 to a knuckle 28 and then extends directly toward the coupler and is formed with the rod loop 17 cooperating with the lug 15 by loosely encircling said lug to permit a slight lost motion between the parts.

Viewed in elevation, as shown in Figure 2, the portion 24 of the rod extends downwardly to a knuckle portion 29 and is provided with a substantially horizontal portion 30 disposed to clear the train lines and extending and merging into the upwardly extending portion 31 which merges into the loop portion 1'7.

With this construction it will be seen that the rod is so disposed that it will adequately clear train lines, will be immovable transversely of the car, but will permit relative movement of the coupler with respect to said rod, and the tendency of said rod will be to rotate in a clockwise direction to thereby tend to maintain the coupler operating mechanism in locked position. Not only is this true but the chances of damaging the op erating gear is lessened as in the case where opposing couplers slip by each other. When this occurs, the usual uncoupling rod frequently becomes damaged, but in the present case the couplers will merely slip over the opposing uncoupling rod and no damage will be done.

Unlocking is effected by raising the handle 23 to rotate the rod in a counterclockwise direction to thereby lift the lifterarm 14 to impart un locking movement to the knuckle 13. In so moving the coupler rod, the weight of the rod still will be such that upon releaseof the handle23 the rod will rotate or tend to rotate in a clock wise direction to return the handle to'inoperai e po i en Wh r t Q nnQ Qbs e sp c between cars and will not be a menace to trainmen or others passing between or vorlcin adjacent the ends of the cars. The loose connection between the lug and rod loop permits the above described movement of the handle re-' gardless of the position of the coupler "lifter so that dangers of coupling on'curves and between cars are greatly diminished.

It is to be understod that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment'of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forinsof the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without'departing from th'espirit' of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

' l. In coupler mechanism having a movable lock, the combination of a rotary member on the coupier for transmitting operating movements to the coupler ock, a bracket, and ahandled operating rod non-translatably'supported by said bracket" and extending to and beingslidably' connected to said rotary member for movement therewith to operate said coupler lock, said rod having an ofiset portion extending in an outboard direction beyond and downwardly'below the axis -of rotation of said rod providing an unbalanced condition in operative position of the coupler tending to prevent rotation of the operating rod which would release the coupler anti-creep and to return the handle to locked position, said downwardly extending part of said oifset portion providing clearance whereby damage to the rod and associated mechanism is prevented in case of misalignment or" adjacent couplers in coupling operation.

2. In coupler mechanism having a movable lock, the combination of a rotary member on the cou pier for transmitting operating movements to the coupler look, a bracket, and a handled operating rod non-translatably supported by said bracket and extending to and being slidabiy conn cted to said rotary member for movement tl'zerewith to opei-atesaid coupler lock, the connection including a looped portion of said rod embracing a portion of said'rotary member whereby said portion of said rotary member is susceptible to sliding movement with respect to said rod, said rod having an offset portion extending in an outboard direction beyond and downwardly below the axis of rotation of said rod providing an unbalanced condition in operative position of the coupler tending to prevent rotation of the operating rod which would release "he coupler anti-creep and to return the handle to locked position, said downwardly extending pa t of said offset portion providing clear ance whereby damage to the rod and associated mechanism is prevented in case of misalignment of adjacent couplers in coupling operation.

3. In coupler mechanism having a movable lock, the combination or a rotary member on the coupier for transmitting operating movements to the coupler look, a bracket, a handled operating rod non-transiatably supported by said bracket and extending toward said rotary member for movement therewith to operate said couper lock, and

means for slidably connecting said rod and rotary member whereby said rotary member susceptible to sliding movement with respect to said rod, said rod having an offset portion extending in an outboard direction beyond and downwardly below the axis of rotation of said rod providing an unbalanced condition in operative position of the coupler tending to prevent rotati n of the operating rod which would release the coupler anti-creep and to return the handle to locked position, said downwardly extending part of said oiiset portion providing clearance whereby damage to the rod and associated mechanism is prevented in case of misalignment of adjacent coupiers in coupling operation.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

